White Rose - Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding

WHAT DO THE OFFICERS OF
THE PROVINCE DO FOR YOU?
In the first of a series of interviews, the deputy editor asked W Bro Andrew G Schofield,
Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies of the Lodge of Peace No 149 about
his role as an Acting Officer within the Province.
W Bro A G Schofield ProvAGDC
Q. What makes the offi ce of Assistant
Director of Ceremonies different from
the majority of fi rst appointments to
Provincial Rank?
A. When accepting the appointment of
a Provincial AGDC, it is for a minimum
period of two years. There are eight
Assistant Directors of Ceremonies in the
Province; usually four are replaced each
year at the Provincial meeting.
Q. What are the duties involved?
A. Our principal duty is to take either a
Provincial Ruler or the acting Senior and
Junior Warden to Installation Ceremonies
at various Lodges within the Province.
We are also required to offi ciate at
jubilee certifi cate presentations, usually
50 year membership of the Craft and
also ‘surprise’ promotions that take
place in Lodges.
Q. Do you receive training in the role?
A. Having been appointed, the
Provincial Director of Ceremonies
organises three training sessions, these
are usually held on Saturday mornings in
July and August. The Provincial Director
of Ceremonies; the three Deputies:
the eight Assistants and the newly
appointed Senior and Junior Wardens
are asked to attend.
Q. How much of a commitment are you
expected to give to the role?
A. Our duties are split into two periods
White Rose Masonic News Spring 2013
September - December and January –
July; within each period we normally have
four dates on which we will carry out the
duties.
Q. How do you go about the role in
lodges throughout the Province?
A. When we have received a list of
the Lodges we are to attend, we are
required to visit a Lodge rehearsal prior
to the Installation. This is to ensure that
the ceremony and festive board run
smoothly and that we are familiar with the
surroundings and Brethren of the Lodge.
Contact is usually made with the
Secretary or Director of Ceremonies
and we request that the Master and
the principal offi cers forming the escort
are present; usually the Director of
Ceremonies, Assistant DC, the Deacons
and Wardens.
An escort usually consists of Grand
Offi cers and Past Provincial Offi cers
(usually Senior or Junior Wardens), whilst
some Lodges invite any Acting Provincial
Offi cers that may be present.
It is our duty to form up the escort, so
we enquire if any Grand Lodge Offi cers
are to be in attendance and who might
be expected to form part of the escort.
We fi nd out if the Ruler or Representative
are to close the volume of the Sacred
Law; if there are any other religious books
to be closed and if so by whom; will the
Ruler or Representative be entering in
the fi rst or second degree; have they
been sent a summons; is there a parking
space reserved; are they to present a
Past Master’s Jewel to the IPM and has
the Lodge got the correct toast list? I
often fi nd many Directors of Ceremonies
are not in possession of the correct toast
list after an Assistant PGM has been
appointed or a Ruler has been promoted
within Grand Lodge.
Q. What do you enjoy about the role?
A. I have been a Provincial AGDC for
two years; it has been a very rewarding
and enjoyable experience. It gives you
a wider knowledge of how the Province
is run and the amount of work all the
Rulers do within it.
I have had the privilege of visiting
many Lodges and Masonic buildings
that I would not normally have had
the opportunity to visit and met many
Brethren, who have always extended
an open invitation for me to return to
another meeting.
Anniversary
Celebrations
Ralph Hewitt of Don Valley Lodge
No 3890 and his wife, Grace celebrated
their Diamond Wedding anniversary on
9 October 2012.
Derek Healey of Perseverance
Lodge No 3197 and his wife, Mollie
celebrated their Diamond Wedding
Anniversary on 20 December 2012.
Bruce Parker of the Lodge of Probity
No 61 and his wife, Hope celebrated
their Golden Wedding anniversary on
22 December 2012.
David Battye of Hillsborough
Lodge No 5444 and his wife, Dorothy
celebrated their Golden Wedding
Anniversary on 13 April 2013.
100 YEARS YOUNG
AND STILL GOING
STRONG
William Jerome, an honorary member of
Loyalty Lodge No 4971, Leeds celebrated
his 100th birthday on their Lodge night.
Also attending this unique event
in the Lodge’s history was Robert
Bailey, ProvJGW who added his own
congratulations to those of the Brethren
present. With such a long Masonic career,
which started when William was Initiated
into Loyalty Lodge in December 1946, it
wasn’t surprising that W Bro Bailey took
the opportunity to discuss how Masonry,
life and times had changed since then.
Photo: (l to r) Robert Bailey; William
Jerome; Steven Betts, Master; Stanley
Jacobs, Senior Past Master.
DISCLAIMER
Every effort is made to ensure
the information contained in
White Rose Masonic News is
correct, but neither the Editor nor
Provincial Grand Lodge can accept
responsibility for any error that
might inadvertently appear
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